Ningbo's Tianyi Pavilion brings Chinese culture to Canada

Participants work on handicrafts. [Photo/Tide News]

Tianyi Pavilion, a 460-year-old treasure from Ningbo and China's oldest existing private library, shared its rich cultural heritage with Canadian audiences during the 2026 Asian Heritage Month celebrations at the Fredericton Multicultural Center in New Brunswick.

This year's Asian Heritage Month was themed "Bridging Cultures, Building Futures" and aimed to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding among diverse communities.

The New Brunswick event, focusing on "The Beauty of Tradition", showcased cultural traditions from across Asia. Representing China, Tianyi Pavilion introduced visitors to the country's centuries-old book collection culture, classical garden aesthetics, and distinctive architectural heritage. A specially designed area also displayed Tianyi Pavilion's history, library system, and its remarkable story of preserving books and knowledge for more than four centuries.

The event featured a workshop on Ningbo cinnabar and gold lacquer woodcarving, a national-level intangible cultural heritage item, where participants shaped pieces, applied lacquer and added gold decorations, gaining firsthand insight into Chinese craftsmanship.